Braiding machine carrier



Filed Feb. 9, 1948 Oct. 26, 1948. l A. T. LocHNER v 2,452,250

\ v BRAIDING MACHINE CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FigJ. 22 I Fig-2.

Inventor Albert 7T Loc/mer Oct. 26, 1948. A. T. LocHNER 2,452,250

BRAIDING MACHINE CARRIER Filed Fb. 9, 1948 2 'sheets-sheet 2A Inventar Alberi 7'. Loc/mer Patented Oct. 26, 1948 BRAIDING MACHINE CARRIER albeit la Lns'hni, Lt'isivill, litt. applicati@ Fehua'ry 9, 194s, serial No. '7,137

This invention relates to a braiding machine carrier, such as is employed in the manufacture of sh'oe laces, covering wire, or the like, where a plurality of strands of wire, thread or yarn are intertwined or interlaced together to form the iin-ished product.

An object of this invention is to maintain an even constant unwindlng of the strands of yarn ol' Wire, or other suitable material, from a bobbin; so that the strands, each being unwound from a separate bobbin, may be intertwined or inter laced with the proper and needed amount of tension imposed on each strand;

Another object of this invention is to unwind the strand from the bobbin; in accordance with the slack or tightness of the strand tension loop atthe braiding machine.

Another object of this invention'is to unwind thestrand from the bobbin without causing the bobbin to rotate or turn, so that a rigid bobbin is employed.

Another object of this invention is to maintain a uniform tension on each strand so that the strands are'earried to the braiding machine in proper relation tothe other strands, so that a tight and firm braid Ais obtained.

Another object of this invention is to tension the strand being unWound from the bobbin in response to the pulling force of the strand at the braiding machine.

nothe object of this invention isl strand at the point of unwinding adjacent to the I ooiin so that thestrald cannot b un'vi'u'nd fin'i the bobbi, if there is any slack in th tsien lett or ai the tiamina naelii.

Anstiiei u means, iesp'snsive 'it the eiilliiig iis of ills strand, te release me lacking isi the sifnli and to thereby 116W the Sttd to' b freni the bebliin.

Wifi; these and antillen; objects iii vie invention comprises ceitaiansifel features sind arrangement ci sans, as will lie xilti iiiai'nt iii me fdlicwiiig description and ili ezfofii'pii: ing' diaiiine's, wneiiiif Figure 1 is a side elevational View of rbobbil carrier, constructed in assaillants' with this' lnventioni Figui@ 2' is resi elevational visit ,i mi siiari braiding machine carrier, s'iiewn iii Figure 1;

Figui-s 3 is in siiliigfi fragmentary detailed View ef pievieea is release ili iiiipiiis si lcekiiig respbiisiie te iii eulliiigiofee of the' strand of the lack of ,material the tensin lees.

strand is received at the brald former under the i5 claims. (o1. 87-56) objest ei tliis iiiif'fitisn it previas l2" ,f kFigure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary 4side view of the instant invention exemplifying the guide member, in position to release the clamping meansi being moved intosaid position by the pulling force of the strand; -A

Figure 5 is an elevationalview of Figure l; Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken sub stantiallypn the line Se- S of Figure 7, a l 1dA Figure 7 a crossfsectionai view taken substarfitiallyon the line 41 of Figure 3.

itis inventaires@ badi-1e resem ,carrier which. iS eifpley .ifi @Stetten with a braiding machine, ach carrier providingx an assnblyv for a bobbl n r spo o l, `arollndu tvhicli is Matted its iliiiii tiene pittige@ either yarn, ti, or avcthe'r suitable st and material. The sti'ad is uilvvild from the bobbin, underfa com stanttension, imposed by a locking devie'and a `l`e1s mechanism, bthof' nich are coavely spo''siv to the slack i" pulling 'force present on the strand adjacent t the braid fri of the braiding machine.

lIt 'is i'ssf in employing a pluralit bipolali'iis, "tendent i115 i' 'iris number, ffii 'strands isir t6 bs iiiiiiiif ned di interlaced, that 'each 'same tension, that tl'i braid is formed flrn'i and constant.

` any tensioning deigics hte been provided to etaiii the strand under constant tension the unwindiiig] Opeiatioii te plie ieiiiatiq'n of the braid. ThisA intention seeks to' facilitate the fen-nacen tf a braid by nim-timing sii-eli simu of the braid under/a, separate tension, responsive te th stattf mestiarid ai the tiaid former, so that eacli strand will' be uiiiveuric f ibiii the bob-bm, aco'rdiice with the' amount ci stranilneede'd tif tl'i braid foiilei te `form vthe braid, The strand as it i's 'unvyii d fln theybobbiri, which is rigid ii the spindle, is guided thriigli a lock'- l"oiriilly locked, l f curilifoiii the isptt-iri.4 licwv, when ili slack is taken up; by

tnebijaigi 'iiiiiiir and is heeded, s and and causes iiig sheave or pullej,

pulling foies' is ei'is'i ai ty ths el'as means t6 ni'ot ln't operative engagement with the clampingmearis aitltlieeby releases tl'ie `laip'ir'ig to allow the desired amount f t'd te Be' iiriwund from the bobbir'i. .When

and the releasing means is en agement with the claniijing iriiliiers, se that tid is again lck 6r clam ed thl g s liev'e.

Ii cfig out 'this' invention, generally de noted by the character reference I0, there is provided a base I2, of any suitable material and oi any desired shape or size. Formed integrally with the base and extending therebelow, is an attaching post I4, by means of which the carrier I6 is secured to a support.

Secured to the top of the base or support I2 is a bottom or base I6, which also serves to support the guide and tensioning assembly for the strands. d y

Firmly supported in the bottom or formed integrally therewith is a spindle, I1, which comprises a tube, of any desired length or circumference and oi a desirable material, such as metal or wood. Supported on the base yI6 by means of the spindle is a spool or bobbin I8 having its bottom disk supported ush on `the top surface of the assembly support or base I6.

Wound around the bobbin or spool is a continuous strand of any suitable material, .such as wire or thread or'yarmwhich is to be unwound from the bobbin bymeans of the braid former on the braiding or quillingmachine.'

The support post andy the `bobbin are formed so that the carrier may be employed in a vertical, horizontal or angular position relative to a braid former. The bobbin or spool I8 has its material holding hub formed of a diameter approximating the diameter of the spindle,`so that the bobbin is held securely on the spindle and rotation or turning of the bobbin on the spindle'is prevented. Thus it can be seen that the bobbin is rigid on the support and the strand is uncoiled or un wound from the bobbin by moving vup and around the top of the bobbin from the vuppermost part of the bobbin, gradually unwinding toward the bottom.

Suitable means are provided to maintain a constant and even tensionon the strand and comprises a tensioning mechanism and guide structure.

The guide means and tensioning means 22 comprises a pair or spaced support rods, 24 and 26, which extend from the support to a point' beyond the top of the bobbin and are maintained in spaced relation at their extending points by means of a cap member 28. This cap member 2B comprises a rectangular bar, having a bore, countersunk at each end thereof, to receive therein the extending points of the rods. Conventional means are employed lto maintain the rods in the bores of the cap member and may include soldering as at 30.

Secured to one side of the cap member and extending at right angles, in working operation, from the longitudinal plane of the support rods is a bracket arm 32 which' is secured to the cap member by any suitable means such as screw 34,

which is inserted through an 'aperture in the bracket arm and is received within theside of the cap or head member 2,8.

The bracket arm 32 is angularly bent, so that the terminating portion, which is formed in the shape of a round disk or plate 36, extends outwardly in line with the space between the two support rods 26 and 24. .A

' Secured to one side of the disk-shaped portion 36 of the bracket arm is a locking sheave or pulley 38, which comprises a pair of cooperating disks 42 and 44, which are secured to the bracket arm, by means of a transverse pin or bolt 46, which extends through suitable apertures centrally disposed in the cooperating disk and the bracket extension. Suitable means are provided to secure the connection and includes a nut 48 threaded on the extending end of the pin or bolt 46, which extends through the disk-shaped extension 36 of the bracket arm 32.

Suitable means are provided to urge the disks together, so as to iorm the locking pulley 38, which is employed for controlling the unwinding of the strand, and comprises a sleeve or bushing 50 which is received around the pin or bolt, and also serves to space the nut 48 from the head of the bolt 46. A spring 52 is supported at one end by the head of the bolt 46 and enlarges or flares outwardly around the sleeve 5I), having its other end of a larger diameter and securely abutting or pressing against the side of the disk 4 4, so that the disk 44 is urged or moved into clamping engagement with the disk 42. The strand of material 29 inserted between the two cooperating disks 42 and 44 is thereby clamped between and is prevented from winding oi the bobbin or spool I8.

v Of course', the bracket arm, locking sheave assembly, the cap or head member 28 by means of the screw 34, so lthat the entire assembly may be moved from its normally horizontal operative position at right angles to the support rods, to a point in longitudinal alignment with the support rods. This swivel construction isv provided in order that a new spool or bobbin may be inserted on the spindle i6 by merely unscrewlng the screw 34 and moving the bracket arm, so that the bobbin may be pulled off and a new one may be inserted on the spindle.

A guide sleeve 54 is formed integrally with the cap head and extends outwardly therefrom at the opposite side of the bracket arm and is employed to guide the strand 20 so that the strand is brought from the carrier to the braiding machine'in a straight line as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Suitable means are provided, responsive to the pulling force of the strand at the braiding machine, to engage and release the locking sheave 38. This means comprises a guide rod 56, having one lend freely inserted in or mounted in the support I4, andthe other end received within a sleeve 58 formed in the cap or head member 26. This guide rod is of a smaller diameter than the support rods and extends longitudinally therewith being positioned and spaced between the support rods.

Received on the support rods and guide rod for reciprocating movement thereon i-s a guide member 60, having arcuate downwardly depending arms 62 and 64 formed on each side thereof and which extend freely around the support rods. Sleeves 66 are formed integrally with the guide member 60 and serve to position the member for movement on the rods. A hook 68 is inserted in the top surface of the guide member 66 and is adapted to receive a strand 26 of the material. Coil springs 16 and 12 are formed around the surface vof the support rods and are employed to maintain the guide member 60 in close proximity with the support I6.

, Formed on the guide rod 56, are a pair of plates or washers 13 and 14 which form a groove on the guide rod, about which is positioned the extending closing arms 16 and 18 of a bifurcated lever 80. Lever is pivoted to the outer surface of .the disk-shaped extension 36 of the bracket arm by means of the pivot pin 82. The opposite end ofthe bifurcated lever is arcuate in shape and corresponds to the round contour of the disk extension 36. An offset portion 83 is formed on supporting the is swivelly secured to ed around the sleeve.

one side of the `arcuate end of' the lever 88 and wedge-shaped extensions 84 and 86 are formed on the offset portion 83. The wedge-shaped extensions 84 and 88 are adapted to engage the cooperating disks 42 and 44 and to move therebetween spreading or forcing the disks apart and allowing the strand of material to be pulled through the locking -sheave 38.

It can thus be seen that by moving the actuating or guide rod 56 upwardly, the arms 'i6 and 18 of the bifurcated lever, which are formed around the groove on the actuating rod, will be limited in their movement by the plates l2 and 'I4 and will be moved with the actuating rod thereby. Thus the rod moving upwardly would cause the bifurcated lever 80 to pivot around the point 82 and would move the onset portion 83 and the appurtenant wedges 84 and 88 into a spreading engagement between: the cooperating disks 42 and 44. v

Suitable means are provided to move the actuating or guide rod 5B upwardly and include a plate orwasher 88 which is formed securely on the actuating rod 58 kand .which limits the upward movement of the guide member 68, as the sleeve of the guide member moving on the actuating rod would contact the plate or washer 88 and would move the actuating rod upwardly thereby. The actuating rod, of course, is loosely inserted or mounted in an axial bore formed in the support plate I4.

In operation, the material is already wound around the bobbin'or spool I8. The spool i8 is then inserted on the spindle I6 by rst raising the bracket arm 32 from the position extending over the spindle. One end of the strand 28 is then inserted between the cooperating di-sks by manually spreading the disks apart and is thread- The strand is then the bobbin or spool hook 88 and then brought downwardly behind and is inserted around the through the guide sleeve 54 and horizontally to the braiding former on the braiding machine.

vThe braiding machine is then rendered. operative and the braid former begins its operation whereby the strand of material being tight from the carrier to the braiding machine will cause the guide member 60 to move upwardly on. the support rod-s 24 and 26, against the pressure of the springs 'l0 and T2 coiled around the operating rods. When the sleeve of the guide member 60 which is received around the actuating or guide rod 5E contacts the outer surface of the plate or washer 88 thereon, the actuating rod is moved upwardly. As the rod moves upwardly, the arms 16 and 'I8 of the kbifurcated lever are moved upwardly accordingly, by means of the plates 'l2 and 'I4 formed on the actuating rod. The lever 80 is then pivoted on the point 82 and the wedge portions 84 and 88 are moved in between the cooperating disks 42 and 44'. The wedge portion-s move or spread apart the disks, as shown in Figure '7 of the drawings, and the strand is ireeto move therebetween. The strand of material is then unwound from the rigid bobbin until a desired amount of springs T8 and 'i2 will force theguide members 68 clown to an inoperative position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. This will allow the actuating rod 56 to move downwardly within the sleeve or bore formed in the support i4 and the wedge portions 84 and 86 of the bifurcated lever 88 will accordingly drop away from engagenien-t with the inner surfaces ofthe cooperating kdisks 42 and 44 and the spring 52 will move the slack is obtained, whereupon the l 6 disk 44 to clamping engagement with the disk 42. Thereby, the strand of material` 2D 'will be held securely in the locking sheave 38.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood. Obviously, the dimensions of the carrier and the supporting structure therefor, may be such that a smaller or larger bobbin or spool may be readily and'easily employed and that the spring employed on the support rods 24 and 26 may .be of suiiicient tension, dependent upon the strength or size of the strand of material.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided a devicewhich with ease and accuracy will facilitate the unwinding of material from also be used for any other type of textile machine, which will employ or which would need a carrier devi-ce, to facilitate the unwinding of material from a spool'or bobbin.

In view of the foregoing description taken `in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it

struction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary. A f

It is to be understood, however', that even though the scope of the appended claims. I

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: i

1. A braiding machine carrier comprising a support, a spindle mounted on said support, a wound bobbin carried rigidly by said spindle, a pair of support rods secured to said support, a bracket swivelly secured to said support'rods, a pair of cooperating guide disks for the A'strand unwound from the bcbbin carried by the bracket, normally retaining said disks in a clamping relation to lock the strand therebetween, an actuating rod carried by said support and disposed parallel with the support rods, a guide member -slidably mounted on said support rods and operatively associated with the actuating rod, said guide member being moved on the rods responsive to a pulling force exerted by the strand, means on said actuating rod for moving the same upon engagement thereof by the guide member, an annular groove formed in said actuating rod, a release member for said disks pivoted to said bracket and having one end received in said groove, resilient means on said s-upport rods for normally retaining said guide member in a seated placement'on the support;`

2. A braiding support, a connecting member received on the extending ends of the rods, a guide secured to said member', a bracket swivelly carried by said connecting member, a pair of cooperating guide disks for the' strand unwound Ifrom the bobbin carried by the bracket, resilient means for normally retaining said disks in a clamping relation to loc-k the strand therebetween, an actuating rod carried by said support and disposed between the support rods, a guide member slidably disposed on said support rods and operatively associated with said actuating rod, said guide member being moved upwardly on the rods responsive to a pulling force exerted by the strand, a stop member on said actuating rod for limiting upward movementl of the guide member thereon and thereby raising the actuating rod corresponding to movement of the guide member, an annular groove on said" actuating rod, a release member for said disks operatively associated with said groove and pivoted tol said bracket and resilient means disposed on said support rods between said connecting member and the guide member for normally retaining said guide member in a seated positionon the support.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said release member includes a lever having an arcuate end pivotally mounted on the bracket, a pair of wedge extensions carried by said arcuate end in alignment with the cooperating disks, said lever terminating in a pair of branches disposed in the annular groove in the actuating rod.

4. A braiding machine carrier comprising a support, a spindle mounted on the support, a bobbin rigidly held on said spindle, rods secured to the support, an actuating rod carried by the support, a bracket swivelly associated with said rods, a pin transversely journalled in said bracket,

a pair of opposed disks received on said pin and forming a sheave to accommodate the strand, resilient means for urging said disks into clamping engagement, means carried by said actuating rod and associated with said bracket for selectively engaging and releasing the disks from clamping engagement in response to a pulling force exerted by thestrand,

5. A braiding machine carrier comprising a support for a wound bobbin, guide means for the strandunwound from the bobbin, braking means for retaining said guide means in a clamping relation with the strand, means operatively associated with said braking means for selectively engaging and releasing the ,brakingmeana said last mentioned means including an actuating rod, said releasing means being operatively associated with the actuating rod and means for moving said actuating rod responsive to the pulling force of the strand.

6. A braiding machine carrier comprising a support for a wound bobbin, rods secured to the support, a bracket adjustably extending from said rods, a pin transversely journalled in said bracket, a pair of opposed disks received on said pin and forming a guide sheave to accommodate the strand from the bobbin, resilient means for urging said disksv into clamping engagement, means responsive to the pulling force of the strand, for selectively engaging and releasing the disks from clamping engagement, wherein the resilient means includes a spring secured on the pin and engaging one of the disks.

'LA braiding machine carrier comprising a support for a wound bobbin, a' pair of support rods secured to the support, an actuating rod carried by the support, braking means for preventing the unwinding of the strand swivelly secured to said rods, a guide member for the strand carried by said rods, means for selectively engaging `and releasing the braking means actuatedby ysaid guide member and actuating rod responsive to the pulling force of the strand.

8. A `braiding machine carrier comprising -a support for a wound bobbin, rods secured to the support and extending therefrom, an actuating rod carried by the support and extending between the rods, a bracket arm swivelly secured to the rods, a pair Yci" cooperating disks supported by the `bracket arm, lresilient means for urging they disks in clamping engagement to prevent the unwinding of the strand guided.l therethrough, a guide member slidably mounted on said rods, means associated with the bracket arm and actuated `by the guide member for engaging and un-` clamping the disks, said guide member .being moved on said rods responsive tothe pulling force of the strand. vSi. A braiding machine carrier comprising a support for a wound bobbin, rods secured to the support and extending therefrom, an actuating rod carried by thesupport and extending between the rods, a bracket arm swivelly secured to the rods, a pair of cooperating guide disks for the strand from the bobbin supported by the bracket arm, resilient -means for urging the disks into clamping engagement to prevent the unwinding ofthe strand, a guide member carried by said rods, means associated with the bracket arm and actuated by the guide member for engaging and unclamping the disks, said guide member being moved on said rods responsive to the pulling force of the strand, said unclamping means including a bifurcated lever pivotally mounted to the bracket arm and having an offset wedge portion for mov ing apart the cooperating disks. y l

10. A braiding machine carrier comprising a support for a wound bobbin, support rods secured to the support and' extending therefrom, an actuating rod vcarried by the support and extending between the rods, a bracket arm swivelly secured to the support rods, a pair of cooperating guide disks for the strand from the bobbin supported by'the bracket arm, resilient means for urging the disks in clamping engagement to prevent the unwinding oi the strand, a 'guide member secured to said rods, means associated with the bracket arm and actuated by the guide member for engaging and unclamping-the disks, said guide member being moved on said rods responsive to the pulling force of the strand, said unclamping means including a bifurcated lever pivotally mounted to the bracket arm and having an oiset wedge portion for moving apart the cooperating disks, said lever having its extending arms formed about the actuating rod, a pair of plates secured on said rod to receive the arms therebetween.

1l. The combination oi claim 10, said guide member having offset arm portions, sleeves formed von the inner surface and received on the support rods and actuating rod and a stop plate formed on said actuating rod for raising said rod upon engagement thereof by one of the sleeves of the guide member.

12. A braiding machine carrier comprising a support for a wound bobbin, a pair of support rods secured to the support, an actuating rod carried by the support, braking meansfor preventing the .unwinding of the strand from the bobbin swivelly secured to said support rods, a guide member for the strand carried by said rods, means for selectively engaging and releasing the braking means actuated by said guide member and actuating rod responsive to the pulling force of the strand, said means including sleeves formed on said guide member to secure the guide member on the rods, a plate formed on the actuating rod to limit the movement of the guide member thereon, a pair of plates formed on said actuating rod, a biiurcated lever associated at one end with said plates, an offset wedge portion formed on said lever, whereby when a pulling force is exerted on the strand the actuating. rod is moved kupwardly The following 10 REFERENCES CITED references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Blaisdell Dec. 31, 1929 Blaisdell Dec. 31, 1929 Pratt Sept. 29, 1931 Mossberg Jan. 24, 1939 

